SCRANTON — In the second half, Jonas Kremski gave Wyoming Area hope after he cut the deficit to one goal against Scranton Prep.
Three minutes later, Tyler Bianchi snatched the momentum back.
Jaxon Pikul lifted a corner to the senior forward, and Bianchi knocked a header into the top of the net, as the Cavaliers reclaimed a two-goal advantage.
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Bianchi had two goals, as No. 4 Scranton Prep defeated No. 5 Wyoming Area, 4-1, on Friday at Loyola Field in the District 2 Class 2A quarterfinals.
“I thought it was great. We really came together,” Bianchi said. “We tried a few different things in the second half, but either way we came together and made it happen.”
The Cavaliers will visit No. 1 Dunmore on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the semifinals.
Scranton Prep dominated the first half, possessing the ball for most of the 40 minutes, and pressured the Wyoming Area defense, finishing with 20 shots and 17 corners.
“For every game, the game plan is to keep good possession of the ball, out-possess the other team, take it up the field and then get a good shot in the final third,” Bianchi said. “Our passing today was very phenomenal.”
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The Cavaliers broke through at the 15:47 mark, when Bianchi smashed a header into the right side of the net off a Pikul corner to give Scranton Prep a 1-0 lead.
“I’m blessed with a pretty decently big body for soccer, so I’m able to get my head there,” Bianchi said. “Every corner that we can get, every corner we can capitalize on is huge for every game.”
Twenty minutes later, Bianchi forced a foul in the box and Landon Cannon ripped the penalty kick into the ride side of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Wyoming Area started the second half strong and got a corner. Kremski headed the corner kick, got his rebound and blasted the ball into the net to cut the deficit to 2-1 at the 52:13 mark.
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However, Bianchi and Pikul connected on their second corner at the 55:45 mark and Soleil Shrestha added an insurance goal off an assist from Tasin Bakhriyen.
Bianchi added seven extra points on the football field later Friday night in Scranton Prep’s 49-6 victory over Scranton.
First: Bianchi (SP) from Pikul, 15:47. Cannon (SP) PK, 34:53; Second: Kremski (WA), 52:13. Bianchi (SP) from Pikul, 55:45. Shrestha (SP) from Bakhriyen, 77:03; Shots-corners: SP 20-17, WA 8-6; Saves: Marsico (SP) 8, Hosier (WA) 7; Records: SP 9-5-3, WA 11-7-1.
Holy Redeemer 6, Gregory the Great 2: In Forty Fort, Charlie Schaffer had three goals, including two in the first half, as Holy Redeemer advanced to the District 2 Class 1A semifinals.
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Redeemer, the No. 3 seed, will visit No. 2 Elk Lake on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
James Martin scored two goals to give Gregory the Great a 2-1 lead with 16 minutes left in the first half before Schaffer put two in the net as Redeemer led, 3-2, after one.
The Royals scored three in the second, Mason Williams’ second goal, Schaffer’s third goal and Colin Mortensen’s first.
First: Williams (HR), 35:11. Martin (G), 24:14. Martin (G), 16:00. Schaffer (HR) from Ferretti, 12:38. Schaffer (HR) from Shupp, 3:47; Second: Mortensen (HR), 31:37. Williams (HR), 20:14. Schaffer (HR) from Upton, 0:19; Shots-corners: G 5-1, HR 15-6; Saves: G 11, HR 4; Records: HR 13-4-2, GTG 6-9-3.
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Wallenpaupack 1, Pittston Area 0: At Pittston Area, Colby Bonagura scored a goal off an assist from Liam Magee to lead the No. 5 Buckhorns in the Class 3A quarterfinals.
Josh Katz had three saves to secure the shutout, and Jackson Duddek had nine saves for the No. 4 Patriots.
Wallenpaupack visits No. 1 Dallas on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the semifinals.
Second: Bonagura (WAL) from Magee, 57:00; Shots-corners: WAL 12-0, PA 6-3; Saves: Katz (WAL) 3, Duddek (PA) 9; Records: WAL 8-8-2, PA 8-8-3.
